Programme Shop

Leamington 0-1 Buxton (National League North)

The start of a busy week as I head to Denmark for a Europa League match between Midtjylland and Forest on Thursday, before games at Braintree and Leicester over the weekend, I'm off to Boston then Morecambe next week before covering two Scottish international matches north of the border, the silly season is here as football compresses into the final few months where the business end separates the men (and women) from the boys (and girls).

Leamington have a new Manager. Scott Easterlow joins from Racing Club Warwick who are doing ok in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division, in his first game in charge the Brakes lost 1-0 at Darlington at the weekend, he joins with a long term plan that will very much be about getting his new team back up to this level next season, cut adrift at the bottom of the table it looks very much like Leamington will be going down.

Buxton are sitting pretty in mid table and a win tonight can take them to within two more victories of a playoff place, under John McGrath since 2024 they have become a staple at the level in their fourth season in National North, the odds are with them to be playing a fifth campaign in a row next term but if they do go up, somehow, with a late push, it'll be the highest run on the ladder they have ever been.

It's a good hour or so drive to Leamington's ground on Harbury Lane in Warwickshire, but I've had to drop the dog off north of the river and I'm now stuck in traffic on the M1. After leaving at 5pm I finally reach the M69 by 6pm where thankfully it's clear, taking the South Coventry ring road and Oxford Road through Princethorpe past their rather posh looking private school and up the Fosse Way where I spot some digging not for bones, but for the new HS2 line (coming soon).

The Venue

I've arrived a good hour ahead of kick off, tonight's game is 'pay what you like' with free parking and of course it's St Patrick's Day with four Guinness for £20 also offered, so a big crowd is expected, I'm glad to beat the rush as I head through the gates of this quaint little countryside retreat before heading to the clubs brilliant programme selling hut, I've brought some spare change with me tonight but the main man is not in, so nobody knows the prices of anything that's not already listed.

I take a shine to a book written by Brian Glanville in 1959 describing international football back then, he calls Argentina 'Argentine' and mentions about Spain not playing in the 1938 World Cup due to their civil war. The shop is brilliant, not just filled to its small rafters with non league programmes, it has second hand books on football grounds and facts, it has a Roy of the Rovers and a Shoot annual from the seventies, some Rothmans Year Books and other who's who guides, there's even a hard cover coaching manual written in the 1970s with Glenn Hoddle sharing tips on volleying, Dennis Tueart explaining how to shield the ball, there's even a section on Graham Taylor going long.

I can't decide what to buy so tell tonight's shopkeeper I'm off for a coffee for a think, but by now there's a queue at the kiosk, so instead I head straight for my seat to get ready for the game.

I've said it before but it's a lovely ground, just sat awkwardly on the edge of town not near anything else, it's modern and built up from the noughties, but has character with metal stands that all look different, it is small and intimate and feels friendly, although the crowd can still get close to the pitch and jeer opponents, some stood up by the barriers with beer as most of the limited seating is taken tonight.

The Game

It's my first viewing of the Bucks this season, I was recently here when Leamington played Merthyr when a fight broke out recently, but with a new manager bounce I'm expecting tonight to be competitive, and Scott Easterlow is presented to the crowd ahead of the game, receiving a warm applause as he heads to the dugout alone, one solitary fan besides me shouting "Go on Scotty Son" as Scott looks back and waves.

I wonder if the bounce has worked at all just a few minutes into the game, Buxton have started dominantly with their trio of technical attacking talent in tandem plus one, Johnny Johnston, Cian Coleman, Luke Brennan, all talented stylish footballers, all combining to inflict early misery on Leamington, the yellow shirts can't get the ball out from their own box, by minute eight, Johnston runs down the right, crosses low for Brennan and he taps in, more than deserved, will this now open the floodgates?

I'm expecting five or six here as Buxton look up for it, tormenting in attack, technical in midfield, they seem to be scratching around a bit in defence with the dreadlocked Kieran Burton playing left back, he's usually decent in a more central position, the away fans are singing about his attractiveness and how they would allow him to sleep with their wives, but despite the joys of the early goal the pressure eases, Buxton step off the gas and Leamington come more into the match, troubling Young from range when Williams shoots low and inches wide.

It's a good game, well contested, but not a classic, Adam Walker, sleeves rolled up, shirt tucked into his shorts, he's been brilliant in the home team midfield but they don't have a lot ahead of him, the plucky Owen Farmer is keen to impress on the left of attack but goals have been their problem this year, just 27 in total scored.

The Score

At half time it's a slender lead on paper but there's a decent gulf between the two, Leamington are gutsy and committed, Buxton without playing well, just have better players in their team.

The Bucks even have the luxury of bringing on a Liverpool loanee, Josh Davidson comes on at half time for his debut and instantly runs around like a mad man, he's already cut holes in the back of the socks which might be ok at Mellwood, but at little old Buxton that will certainly piss off the kitman.

Davidson smashes into an opponent to earn an early booking and looks lively down the right side, bombing forward, but it's another young defender I'm really impressed with tonight, Max Bardell signed from Derby County in the summer, he's brilliant, commanding, winning every header, showing authority and composure for one so young.

That authority is lacking in the Leamington line up, Walker aside, perhaps Dan Meredith at right back gives it in doses, but not many else sparks enthusiasm, every time the ball goes near Will Glennon at centre half I'm nervous, I'm not all that confident in Theo Streete besides him?

But the home team keep plugging away, they have given themselves and their supporters a real charge in the second half, often lumping balls in to the Buxton box for them only to be cleared away, it's a gallant effort but in the end, like on Saturday, that goal eludes them, more bookings than shots on target from this one, Bucks Manager John McGrath will certainly be relieved to take the three points, whilst Scott Easterlow should take pride in performance despite defeat.

The Stars

My man of the match by a mile is the 23 year old blonde haired defender Max Bardell who looks competent to kick on to bigger and better things than already playing his home games at the highest ground in England, it wasn't a great night for talent spotting Buxton players who include some usually fine footballers, Connor Kirby quiet in midfield, their forward line always a threat, if not having that much of an overly productive night. Johnny Johnston is a little old-skool winger who runs directly with pace out right, Luke Brennan a more cultured larger left sider is neat with a trick and likes to cut in, Cian Coleman with ten on his back, doing ten things, looking pretty combining with those in front.

For Leamington, their number ten Ewan Williams did ok and had a couple of sniffs from range, Owen Farmer on the left grafted until the end, their most productive forward player however was their 35-year-old centre midfielder Adam Walker, he had a brilliant game, always available for a pass, always putting the ball in good areas, carving and creating, he was as busy as anyone, unfortunately he couldn't do it all alone.

Dan Meredith again impressed out at right back, a swashbuckling defender who does everything at 100 miles an hour, he took a late booking for smashing into an opponent which sparked a few handbags, but often got forward well, and he whips a dangerous right footed ball in too. Ben Blythe on the left side of defence also doing well, he's a centre back on loan from Spalding United, he gave his all and looked a robust young defender.

The Verdict

Leamington simply don't have the fire power and their relegation announcement is only a matter of time, and time is now needed for their new Manager, a good pre-season and his own DNA added this summer, let's then judge if they are good enough to bounce back and reach this level again.

Buxton are one of those teams who I feel can beat anyone on their day, they can probably lose to anyone too, which is why they are sat mid table, but they have some good footballers, they always seem to attract good players, and they will keep doing Buxton things, sitting pretty high on their hill in the Peaks, I just wonder, is National North, about as high as they can go?

The Teams

Leamington: Eddie Brearey, Dan Meredith, Theo Streete, Will Glennon, Ben Blythe, Adam Walker, Ewan Williams, Miro Pais (Frank Tattum 63), Joe Clarke (Max Brogan 73), Owen Farmer, Eric Yahaya (Tim Berridge 72).

Buxton: Joe Young, Will Trueman (Josh Davidson 46), George Ward, Kieran Burton, Johnny Johnston (Deniche Hill 90), Connor Kirby, Cian Coleman, Luke Brennan, Ashton Mee, Max Bardell, Connor Douglas (Joey Dawson 78).

7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 17th March 2026, New Windmill Ground, Leamington Spa (att 602).